as in bought
made beforehand in large numbers
she chose to have her computer designed to her specifications rather than buying an off-the-shelf machine
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Recent Examples of off-the-shelf
In contrast, off-the-shelf smartphone camera sensors are potentially hyperspectral in nature, meaning that each pixel is sensitive to far more spectral bands.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2025
That demand for constant revision caused a series of time delays and cost overruns, but also led to the engineers designing proprietary parts for the aircraft, rather than relying on off-the-shelf equipment.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2025
Beginning November 10, 2028, all contracts involving Federal Contract Information or Controlled Unclassified Information will require compliance, except for contracts solely for commercially available off-the-shelf items.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There aren’t really off-the-shelf solutions that can move the needle.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-shelf
IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2025
That demand for constant revision caused a series of time delays and cost overruns, but also led to the engineers designing proprietary parts for the aircraft, rather than relying on off-the-shelf equipment.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2025
Beginning November 10, 2028, all contracts involving Federal Contract Information or Controlled Unclassified Information will require compliance, except for contracts solely for commercially available off-the-shelf items.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There aren’t really off-the-shelf solutions that can move the needle.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for off-the-shelf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-the-shelf
Adjective
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The chain said that refunds would be available to patrons who had pre-bought tickets.—
Patrick Frater,
Variety,
14 July 2022
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Cineplex has also begun offering refunds to all customers that pre-bought tickets for upcoming film screenings.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Jan. 2022
Adjective
-
The latest cuts are the third wave of reductions in administrative and other non-store jobs in 2025, following Kroger's back-to-back cuts in February and March.—
Alexander Coolidge,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
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The store cuts come months after Kroger announced two rounds of layoffs of an unspecified number of non-store workers this spring.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off-the-shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-the-shelf. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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